Anyone have any thoughts on this possibility? It would be great if a later model MB could be used. Recirc ball steering is only good on the highway, if at all.

Funny, because in MB promotional material for the W126, they brag about using recirculating ball instead of rack and pinion because of its superior 'feel'.

If the box isn't worn out, it should be fine. W124 is a bad-ass ride, I've never heard anyone complain about a (working) steering box......

My guess is that even if you managed to convert the car to R&P it would be at the cost of safety. Crumple zones, collapsible steering column, etc. All of it has to be engineered and crashed repeatedly to make sure it doesn't intrude into the cabin in a bad wreck.

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x10.

The non R&P steering is far superior IMO. Road feel (especially with all new suspension parts), wider grippy tires, is AMAZING. All R&P cars have such a lifeless steering feel to them and it takes out the fun in driving.

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Now that's just silly. Most recirculating-ball steering setups are not very good, and do not come close to even a cheap rack-and-pinion setup in terms of your ability to actually control the car.

M-B makes some quality suspension and steering systems, and that's why we buy them. Don't compare a M-B R-B steering to a cheap Japanese R&P to decide the R-B is superior to R&P.

My W210 with it's R&P steering doesn't drive like a Honda, thank you very much.

Well, we all have our opinions...
I personally don't care for cars in which I can turn the steering wheel with my pinky. (can in the W210, not so much in the W124)

Maybe that is why many diehard 190E and 300E fans moved to BMWs once they decided to upgrade...

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Just what are you trying to say here? That a good Benz regurgitating ball steering is better than a Benz R&P?

If you've driven any European car with R&P steering, old or new, you'll appreciate the road feel and precision, that's why MB went to R&P with the W210. Recirc ball steering is better suited to trucks and off-roading.

Funny I though the conversion was :

1) market pressures -that's what consumers wanted b/c all the other manufactures converted
2) They are cheaper
3) lighter weight.

M

I thought that I was clear. Don't compare a M-B R-B system to another brand's R&P.

And I think that M-B's R&P is VASTLY superior to even their own R-B system.

When they are working well, both are pretty darn good. Having had several MBs with each setup, my opinion is the R&P has superior steering feel. The 210 has absolutely fabulous steering - it's light, but very accurate. And the effort builds linearly in proportion to how hard you are working the front tires.
In comparison a 124 feels heavy and dead.

Whether you can spin the wheel with your pinky is just how much assist the designers built into the system, either R&P or RB can be made heavy or light.

One advantage of the R&P is fewer moving parts to wear - no drag link and no idler arm. In my experience it keeps that taught feeling longer as a result.

BMWs have light steering feel, and have been R&P longer than MB.

The late 124 is a much lighter feel, you can't tell it from a variable-assist r&p IMO.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

[QUOTE=jcyuhn;2443791]When they are working well, both are pretty darn good. Having had several MBs with each setup, my opinion is the R&P has superior steering feel. The 210 has absolutely fabulous steering - it's light, but very accurate. And the effort builds linearly in proportion to how hard you are working the front tires.
In comparison a 124 feels heavy and dead.



You hit the nail on the head!
If only there was a way to adapt the 210 steering to the 124...

Adapt a '95 pump, it's a whole different car.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

W201 converted to rack and pinion from a W210 before LS1 swap.

http://www.mbworld.org/forums/190e-w201/207515-ls-190-v8-engine-swap-pics.html

Even the best recirculating gear box DOES NOT have better feel and response than a properly setup rack and pinion. Driven an E30 lately?

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I prefer the feel of Recirculating Ball, but I've never driven a MB with R&P, just other cars....and I didn't like it on those. My W124 has all new steering components and a fresh alignment, and it drives amazingly well. I'm doing the same to my W126 in the coming couple months.

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